"There's a little old town called New Orleans I knowThere's a little old town called New Orleans I knowHey, it's alright, everything swings all nightIn a little old town called New Orleans I know"That's the way Jerry Jeff put it!We started early (by NOLA time), and not much was open. We decided to take the St.Charles Avenue Streetcar up through the Garden District and back. It is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world, service began on September 26, 1835. Beautiful old homes along the way and it gave us a chance to get out of the COLD

! When we ate dinner last night outside it was balmy, and I'm wearing a short sleeve shirt today, it's about 50F and WINDY, not too smart on my behalf! We get off at the far end (mandatory) and have a coffee and a pastry at the La Madeleine Cafe. A nice Latte for me with a Lemon Madeleine - very tasty, Donna's was coffee and a Gateau Basque, equally delicious.Back on the streetcar (do NOT call it a trolley!) and back to Canal Street, where we first step foot on Bourban Street in the French Quarter, or at least Donna does. I did step - or stumble - around here many years ago. Doesn't seem to have changed too much, a few more junky souvenir shops, the same buildings, and lots of people 'in the suds' Noon isn't here yet. We stop by Marie Laveau's Voodoo Shop (choosing not too buy a doll and put a curse on anyone just yet), and drop by the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. Jamie, Mike and I stayed here back in1974, it was a Ramada then, but still pretty classy for three drunk teens. It was more elegant than I remembered (or perhaps noticed?), we walked through to the pool courtyard and there were the French Doors to the room we had stayed in. surprisingly they haven't yet placed a plaque commemorating that occasion!We went as far as St. Ann Street before turning down towards Decatur and the Mississippi

. We emerge at Jackson Square, the site of Jamie's 'horse ride' in '74 - no not a horse drawn carriage, but the back of Andrew Jackson's horse (What? Still no plaque?!!?)We saw a wedding procession leaving St. Louis Cathedral, brass band and all - THAT was neat! We were taking in some of the artwork and buskers when - downpour! Now cold and wet (yes the umbrellas are in the car). So it seemed the perfect time to enter (along with about 500 other like minded people!) 'Cafe Du Monde' a NOLA institution, has been serving Cafe Au Lait and Beignets (deep fried dough heaped with icing sugar - don't knock it 'til you try it!) 24 hours a day since 1862!!! Beat that Timmy's.Well, now wet and cold we could stand it no longer, and hopped the Riverfront Streetcar back to Canal Street, on to the ferry and home for warm clothes and back to Decatur Street in less than an hour. We stopped at an artist co-op with 'real' stuff and Donna got a Sleeping Sister pin and met the artist. Continuing on we were now in the French Market, where I got a Gator on a stick! Sausage kinda like pork, pretty good but it's not Sullivan's! We decided on eating in the market to save a bit of $$$. Donna got a vegetarian Muffaletta and I got the real thing, both got halfs as I learned my lesson the night before and we still had a piece left each for lunch on our drive tomorrow.

After eating we started up Frenchmens Street, where our B&B host and some locals at dinner last night told us was where the 'real' music was. How neat is it to stroll down the street listening to live music coming out of every door. Most places had 3 bands a night! We stopped at a couple spots. The first was the Apple Barrel where there was just one guy playing guitar. He'd likely be a headliner anywhere in Ontario, but here he had a small corner and a tip jar. Played awesome slide guitar, delta blues, great voice too. Unfortunately my video of him didn't come out. After that we heard the 'Smoking Time Jazz Club; band at The Maison. See my post on music for more about that plus a video.That was it for the night and for New Orleans, we caught the ferry back to Algiers and got to bed to ready for a long drive to Texas on Sunday.I know I mentioned it before, but I just wanted to say again how much I love Donna and how happy I am to be on this 'odyssey' with her. We've been great together and are loving it!